Everything exists in the Infinite Consciousness. This Undivided Consciousness
pervades all. This Pure Awareness is Unchanging, Timeless,
Fathomless, Sunn (Spiritual Silence, Devoid of the noise of Haume or Mayaic thoughts, etc.), Sahaj (Natural State
of Being)...

We are the True Image
(Joti-Svaroopa) of this Undivided, Conscious Principle (All-Full-Nature). Those who know this Supreme
Truth, the substratum of everything in the universe, know everything. Those
who don't, know nothing at all even though they may be most learned.

Just as the ocean rises up as waves, the consciousness rises up in us as the sense
of "I" from the effort of false ego. The mind's defects (restlessness, ignorance
and inner "filth", etc. ) create division and give rise to name and form,
which hide the Reality. When this false "I" (ego mind) is removed by removing
attachment to any action, thought, and object, then only the real "I" (the true
Self) is realized; the substratum in which everything moves. When this Divine Knowledge
(Aatam-Giaan) dawns upon us, all notions such as ignorance, knowledge, bondage,
liberation, pain, joy, birth, death, action, latent tendencies, memory, mind,
intelligent, ego, Jeeva (individualized consciousness), etc., cease to
be. All wandering of the instinctive mind is nothing but movement of the physical
ego.

Mind constantly swings between the Reality (Consciousness, ਚੇਤਨ) and the illusion
(inertness, ਜੜ). When the mind contemplates the inert objects for sometime,
it assumes their characteristic of inertness. This mental division occurs
when the Infinite Consciousness becomes the object of the mind (Haume or egotism). This is
to say that all false concepts arise when the Cosmic Spirit due to self-forgetfulness
viewing itself as the object of perception.

The Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) reminds us that the mind is made in
the Image of the Divine Light (Joti-Svaroop). What it means is that the mind in its
Pure state is a Cosmic Mind.

If Pure Consciousness is the Essential Nature of
the mind, then how does it fall into the dark well of ignorance? The latent tendencies and memories create movement or disturbance in the individualized consciousness. In this agitated
state, it views diversity and identifies objects as such. As movement in the ocean
causes countless waves, similarly, the restlessness in the consciousness creates
countless manifestations such as mind, intellect, ego, memory, latent tendencies,
sensations, feelings, thoughts, and so
on.

By moving in the wrong direction towards self-forgetfulness and deeper involvement
in false fancies (Maya), the consciousness becomes conditioned. Thus, veiled
by the ignorance of its Eternal Nature, which is Truth-Knowledge-Bliss, it creates
confusion between reality and world-appearance called Maya (illusion). All false
notions are the product of such deluded mind. They do not exist any more than
water exists in the mirage!

Liquor is able to make one see all sorts of phantoms in the empty sky. Similarly,
the deluded mind is able to make one see diversity in the unity. Just as a drunkard
person sees objects moving, the ignorant one sees movement in this world. Thus,
the mind is able to veil the All-pervading, Pure, Eternal and Infinite Consciousness,
making us confuse it with this inert physical body.

It is clear that this world-appearance is nothing but the play of the mind. The
deluded mind veils the real nature of our Mool (Source, Origin...) and creates an illusory appearance.
For example, in the moonless night, the impure mind creates an illusory appearance
of a ghost in the pole, and a snake in the rope. Scriptures reveal to us that
annihilation or destruction (purification) of the false mind is must for attaining
oneness with the Spirit within. This mind does not cease to be until it is burnt
in the fire of the Divine Knowledge.

Upon eradicating mind's defects (with the help of the Divine Knowledge or Aatam-Giaan), the mind again
sees itself as Pure, Universal Consciousness. Upon realizing its Mool,
all its false manifestations cease to be. Only the Infinite Consciousness remains.
The mind of an Enlightened Man (the Gurmukh, etc.) does not move from this reality. The Gurbani
roasr that such man alone is a human being, the others are just worms, and animals.

Ignorance or mental conditioning is the seed of this world appearance (Maya). It perverts
all relationships and experiences. The moment mind becomes conscious of the
Truth that the vision of division or diversity is the product of ignorance,
it is known as Knowledge or Gian (pronounced as Giaan, etc.). Thus, knowledge is the rediscovery of
Truth.

The term knowledge has a specific meaning as indicated by the Gurbani; which
is different than the general meaning of this word as understood by many of us.
Nowadays, generally the knowledge is connected to education. Upon analysis, one
will find that these two words — knowledge and education
— have specific meanings. In short, the education
is the collection of data or information by sense organs, which can be imparted
to a person by training. However, from a Spiritual standpoint, the knowledge is
something that must be discovered. Hence, education can only be meaningful and
purposeful if it leads one to the knowledge by which he can discover the Truth
for himself; for he can see life in its totality and completeness and not just
in part. This will become a bit more clear in the pages that lie ahead.

The highest knowledge is the recognition of Oneness in many-ness. That One Homogeneous
whole is the Changeless in changing phenomena, like the gold in ornaments, the
ocean in waves, the clay in pots, the thread in pearls, the sun in rays, the aroma
in the flower, and the moon in the pools of water. This vision of Oneness is the
highest Knowledge.

In order for man to find out what he really is, he needs to find out what he
is not. The Aatam Giaan helps one to understand what he is not, and
keeps him free from false concepts, precepts, ideas, desires, fear, and actions.
It makes one alert and careful, by rejecting all that does not go with the Truth:
"Soham" (He is me or I am That).

The purpose or use of knowledge is to bring about inner transformation. One
aimlessly wanders in this world till there is the dawn of Spiritual Wisdom able
to destroy the root of ignorance in which the Jagat (material world)
appears real. This inner transformation can only happen with the Aatam Giaan;
the rediscovery of the Truth within. When the mind is engaged in Wisdom, it
sheds all mental dispositions or conditioning and returns to its Original Nature
as Pure Consciousness (Mool). Such person, the knower of the Truth is called by many names as Brahm Giaanee, Enlightened person, God-conscious person, the knower of Truth or God, the man of Self-knowledge, the Gurmukh, etc. Such person of the True Knowledge renounces his Ahambudh (egotism).

The knowledge results in the elimination of falsehood. Majority of us have based
our lives on certain concepts, some may be right, but many are false. Our actions
arising from wrong concepts are also wrong. There are many such false concepts.
The main ones are: taking the self as the physical body; thinking that sense pleasures
are the source of real happiness; and believing that material wealth is the source
of real security in life. The purpose of knowledge is to remove all false concepts,
and at the same time get established in the nature of the Truth.

The surest sign of man in Wisdom is that he is unattracted by the pleasures of
the world (Maya). Knowledge helps cease the subtle tendencies or Vaasnaas in man.
When the Vaasnaas are strong, there is bondage; when they have ceased,
there is liberation. In other words, universes cease when Vaasnaas cease. Vaasnaas create restlessness in mind. Without restlessness, there is no
mind!

The knowledge makes us aware of the unreality of mental conditioning.
Just as a shadow disappears when it turns to see the light, similarly, as we
turn towards the Light of knowledge, the ignorance disappears. Just as
the water ceases to flow when the river dries up, in the same way the mind (material
contaminations or impurities) ceases to be when it attains mastery by becoming
aware of the endless stream of duality and resulting confusion of perception
and experience. But such True Knowledge and Wisdom is realized by becoming the Gurmukh (the follower of Truth, spiritual being, Self-realized being, etc.)

Thus, to rid oneself of the disease of false ego or bodily-consciousness, there
is no remedy other than Spiritual Wisdom. The creation exists in the Infinite
Consciousness and the Infinite Consciousness exits in the creation just as the
sprout in the seed, liquidity in the water, heat in the fire, coldness in the
ice, and pungency in the capsicum. However, the ignorance makes it appear to be
different from and independent of the Mool. Knowledge alone
is the cure for such wrong perceptions.

ਆਤਮ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਾਮ ਮਹਿ ਆਤਮੁ ਚੀਨਸਿ ਗੁਰ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥: Aatam mahi Raam Raam mahi aatam cheenas Gur beechaaraa:
God is in the Soul, and the Soul is in God. This is realized through Reflecting (on the Teachings) of the Guru (1153).

In essence, to become established in Divine Knowledge is liberation (Mukti);
when this is disturbed, there arise bondage and egoism (mind or Jeeva).
Therefore, in the state of Self-knowledge there is no mental restlessness; for
there is no distraction, mental dullness, perception of duality, and bondage.
Ultimately, the Self-knowledge leads one to the state of Dhyana (pronounced Dhiaan) or meditation.

Craving in the mind for sense-pleasure aggravates the ignorance or mental conditioning.
The Pure mind is free from such cravings, and, therefore, it attains Divine Knowledge.
How one can go about cultivating such pure knowledge?

Complete Knowledge includes knowledge of the phenomenal world, the Spirit behind
it, and the source of both of them. This is called Transcendental Knowledge.
After gaining this Complete Knowledge, nothing remains unknown.

The treasure of such knowledge is hidden within. However, due to our mind's
preoccupations, we do not see it. Intuitive Understanding of the Gurbani through Shabad-Vichaar is
the key to open the lock to this treasure; the Essence of Divinity. Since we
do not understand the language of the Mool, the Shabad or Naam
helps connect us with It.

Many will claim they have read the Gurbani (or any other scriptures for that
matter) over and over again; but still nothing has happened. The reason nothing
happens is that, even though they have repeatedly gone through the Gurbani,
but the Gurbani has not gone through them, yet!

The knowledge without loving devotion gives rise to ego-sense. This Spiritual
Wisdom dawns with the practice of the Shabad or Naam, and association
of Sat (Truth) within and without.
Then one understands that the wealth, family, friends, relatives, power, pleasure,
possessions, etc., are false show of ego; nothing but the vast expanse
of Maya.

ਸੋ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥: So Giani jini shabdi liv laaee: He alone is
a Giaanee (ਗਿਆਨ-ਵਾਨ), who has focused his consciousness on the Shabad (sggs
831).

Our true nature is Pure Awareness. If we are ignorant of this, then the Awareness
turns outwards, towards manifestation. That is called "Jagat"
or "Sansaar", the place of repeated "suffering". When we turn
our mind inward, the reflections of our Mool falls on the mind; by which
the veil of illusion gets thinner and thinner. In the end, the mind becomes dissolved
in the Mool. Then the notion of "other" (duality or Doojaa
Bhaav) ceases to be. Therefore, the True Wisdom is the love of theMool within.